इन्द्राद्या निर्जिता येन देवा दैत्यास्तथापरे । तं कथं समरे देवि जेतुमिच्छसि भामिनि
He by whom Indra and the other gods, as well as the Daityas and others, have been conquered—how do you, O Goddess, wish to defeat him in battle, O lovely one?
त्रैलोक्ये तादृशो नास्ति यः शुम्भं समरे जयेत् । का त्वं कमलपत्राक्षि तस्याग्रे युधि साम्प्रतम्
There is no one in the three worlds who can defeat Śumbha in battle. Who are you, O lotus-eyed one, to stand before him in combat now?
अविचार्य न वक्तव्यं वचनं चापि सुन्दरि । बलं स्वपरयोर्ज्ञात्वा वक्तव्यं समयोचितम्
Without due consideration, such words should not be spoken, O beautiful one; knowing the strength of oneself and the other, one should speak appropriately to the situation.
त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः शुम्भस्तव रूपेण मोहितः । त्वाञ्च प्रार्थयते राजा कुरु तस्येप्सितं प्रिये
Śumbha, lord of the three worlds, is enchanted by your beauty; the king desires you—grant his wish, O beloved.
त्यक्त्वा मूर्खस्वभावं त्वं सम्मान्य वचनं मम । भज शुम्भं निशुम्भं वा हितमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते
Abandon your foolishness and heed my words with respect; accept Śumbha or Niśumbha—I speak this for your welfare.
शृङ्गारः सर्वथा सर्वैः प्राणिभिः परया मुदा । सेवनीयो बुद्धिमद्भिर्नवानामुत्तमो यतः
Love is to be enjoyed by all beings with utmost delight; for the wise, it is ever new and supreme.
नागमिष्यसि चेद् बाले संक्रुद्धः पृथिवीपतिः । अन्यानाज्ञाकरान्प्रेष्य बलान्नेष्यति साम्प्रतम्
If you do not come, child, the enraged lord of the earth will send others who obey his command, and they will bring you by force.
केशेष्वाकृष्य ते नूनं दानवा बलदर्पिताः । त्वां नयिष्यन्ति वामोरु तरसा शुम्भसन्तिधौ
The arrogant demons, intoxicated by their strength, will surely drag you by your hair, O slender-thighed one, and take you swiftly to Shumbha's presence.
स्वलज्जां रक्ष तन्वङ्गि साहसं सर्वथा त्यज । मानिता गच्छ तत्पार्श्वे मानपात्रं यतोऽसि वै
Protect your modesty, delicate-bodied one, and abandon all recklessness; go to his side with dignity, for you are indeed worthy of honor.
क्व युद्धं निशितैर्बाणैः क्व सुखं रतिसङ्गजम् । सारासारं परिच्छेद्य कुरु मे वचनं पटु
What is the value of battle with sharp arrows compared to the pleasure born of union? Discern what is essential and what is not, and heed my wise counsel.
भज शुम्भं निशुम्भं वा लब्धासि परमं सुखम् । देव्युवाच सत्यं दूत महाभाग प्रवक्तुं निपुणो ह्यसि
Choose Shumbha or Nishumbha, and you will attain supreme happiness. The Goddess spoke: Truly, O messenger, you are skilled in speaking.
निशुम्भशुम्भौ जानामि बलवन्ताविति ध्रुवम् । प्रतिज्ञा मे कृता बाल्यादन्यथा सा कथं भवेत्
I know that Nishumbha and Shumbha are certainly powerful; but I made a vow in childhood—how could it be otherwise?
तस्माद् ब्रूहि निशुम्भञ्च शुम्भं वा बलवत्तरम् । विना युद्धं न मे भर्ता भविता कोऽपि सौष्ठवात्
Therefore, tell me which is stronger, Nishumbha or Shumbha; without battle, no one will become my husband, due to my resolve.
जित्वा मां तरसा कामं करं गृह्णातु साम्प्रतम् । युद्धेच्छया समायातां विद्धि मामबलां नृप
Let him conquer me by force and then take my hand; know, O king, that I have come here desiring battle and am not weak.
युद्धं देहि समर्थोऽसि वीरधर्मं समाचर । बिभेषि मम शूलाच्चेत्पातालं गच्छ मा चिरम्
If you are capable, grant me battle and fulfill the duty of a warrior; if you fear my spear, then go quickly to the netherworld.
त्रिदिवं च धरां त्यक्त्वा जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते । इति दूत वदाशु त्वं गत्वा स्वपतिमादरात्
If you desire life, then abandon heaven and earth; thus, O messenger, go swiftly and speak to your master with respect.
स विचार्य यथायुक्तं करिष्यति महाबलः । संसारे दूतधर्मोऽयं यत्सत्यं भाषणं किल
He, possessing great strength, will act as is proper after considering; in this world, the duty of a messenger is to speak the truth.
शत्रौ पत्यौ च धर्मज्ञ तथा त्वं कुरु मा चिरम् । व्यास उवाच अथ तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नीतिमद्बलसंयुतम्
Knowing the righteousness regarding enemy and husband, you should act without delay. Vyasa said: Then, hearing those words, full of policy and strength,
हेतुयुक्तं प्रगल्पञ्च विस्मितः प्रययौ तदा । गत्वा दैत्यपतिं दूतो विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
Reasoned and bold, the messenger departed, astonished; having gone to the lord of the demons, he considered again and again.
प्रणम्य पादयोः प्रह्वः प्रत्युवाच नृपञ्ज तम् । राजनीतिकरं वाक्यं मृदुपूर्वं प्रियं वचः
Bowing humbly at his feet, he addressed the king of demons with words of royal policy, gentle and pleasing.
दूत उवाच सत्यं प्रियं च वक्तव्यं तेन चिन्तापरो ह्यहम् । सत्यं प्रियं च राजेन्द्र वचनं दुर्लभं किल
The messenger spoke: One must speak what is true and pleasing; therefore, I am full of concern. True and pleasing words, O king, are indeed rare.
अप्रियं वदतां कामं राजा कुप्यति सर्वथा । साक्षात्कुतः समायाता कस्य वा किंबलाबला
If one speaks unpleasant words, the king becomes angry in every way. From whom, and for what reason, has she come, and what is her strength or weakness?
न ज्ञानगोचरं किञ्चित्किं ब्रवीमि विचेष्टितम् । युद्धकामा मया दृष्टा गर्विता कटुभाषिणी
Nothing is within the scope of my knowledge—what can I say about her actions? I saw her eager for battle, proud, and harsh in speech.
तया यत्कथितं सम्यक् तच्छृणुष्व महामते । मया बाल्यात्प्रतिज्ञेयं कृता पूर्वं विनोदतः
Hear attentively, O wise one, what she said to me. I made a vow in childhood, previously, out of delight.
सखीनां पुरतः कामं विवाहं प्रति सर्वथा । यो मां युद्धे जयेदद्धा दर्पञ्च विधुनोति वै
In the presence of my companions, I have declared regarding marriage: whoever defeats me in battle and truly humbles my pride—
तं वरिष्याम्यहं कामं पतिं समबलं किल । न मे प्रतिज्ञा मिथ्या सा कर्तव्या नृपसत्तम
—him, if I desire, I shall accept as my husband, provided he is my equal in strength. My vow must not be made in vain, O best of kings.
तस्माद्युध्यस्व धर्मज्ञ जित्वा मां स्ववशं कुरु । तयेति व्याहृतं वाक्यं श्रुत्वाहं समुपागतः
Therefore, O knower of righteousness, fight with me; having conquered me, make me yours. Hearing these words, I approached her.
यथेच्छसि महाराज तथा कुरु तव प्रियम् । सा युद्धार्थं कृतमतिः सायुधा सिंहगामिनी
As you wish, O great king, so do what pleases you. She, resolute and lion-gaited, was intent on battle and armed.
निश्चला वर्तते भूप यद्योग्यं तद्विधीयताम् । व्यास उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य सुग्रीवस्य नराधिपः
She remained unmoved, O king; let whatever is appropriate be done. Vyāsa said: Hearing these words of Sugrīva—
पप्रच्छ भ्रातरंशूरं समीपस्थं महाबलम् । शुम्भ उवाच भ्रातः किमत्र कर्तव्यं ब्रूहि सत्यं महामते
—the king questioned his valiant brother, who stood nearby, endowed with great strength. Śumbha said: